Newport News Va teacher shot by 6-year old (2023) wins $10M civil trial against the city

[underpants]

https://www.wavy.com/news/local-news/closing-arguments-to-begin-wednesday-in-abby-zwerners-lawsuit-against-newport-news-school-division/

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) — The jury reached a verdict Thursday in the Richneck Elementary School shooting civil trial, ruling in favor of the plaintiff, Abigail Zwerner. They assessed her damages at $10 million. The lawsuit was filed for $40 million.


Zwerner was shot by one of her 6-year-old students in her classroom on Jan. 6, 2023. The bullet went through her hand and then narrowly missed her heart.

During the closing arguments Wednesday, Zwerner’s attorney Kevin Biniazan recounted Parker’s alleged failure to act on repeated warnings that a 6-year-old student had brought a gun.

[phylny]

1. Since this happened, I thought she had a great case.

Administration was warned that he had a gun, and if I'm remembering correctly, one of his parents was supposed to accompany him in the classroom because of his behavior.

Poor kid needs help. I'm glad the teacher will have some justice.

[pinkstarburst]

7. The school district was at fault on so many accounts

not only for the gun thing, but this wackadoodly-do idea that they were requiring the parent to be at school with the child in their classroom every day, basically serving as their 1 to 1 behavioral support paraprofessional so that they would not have to provide a 1 to 1 para for the child is all sorts of against the law. If the kid qualifies for sp ed supports, you have to legally give them special ed supports. You don't tell their parent the only way they can attend school is for the parent to sit in their classroom every day with them.

[msongs]

2. geez why not take gun away from small kid

[Cha]

3. Good for Abigail Zwerner... what a

Nightmare she's been through.

TY!

[stopdiggin]

4. abject negligence on the part of school

(and I'm not a big fan of lawsuits at every turn .. )
But, in this case - egregiously at fault, and they deserved every bit of penalty coming their way ...

[Grins]

5. $10-million from taxpayers! Who don't own guns!

The state should put a HEFTY property tax on guns to pay for this. Let the ‘Freedumb!’ gun owners pick up the tab for the hell they created.

[Whiskeytide]

6. Liability ins will pay some of it, maybe all if the teacher's lawyers demanded policy limits before trial. n/t